Pewaukee - Gov. Scott Walker said Wednesday that he would not sign a bill to end same-day voter registration because of its cost and reiterated that a right-to-work law was not on his agenda - even after Michigan passed such legislation - because he wants to stay focused on improving the state's business climate.

On same-day registration, Walker said a recent Government Accountability Board report that says it would cost the state $5.2 million to end the state's same-day registration law convinced him that he should not sign such a bill. | Dec. 12, 2012»Read Full Article(1276)

Madison - The state health secretary will tell Congress on Thursday that Wisconsin will pay more for its health care programs for the needy under the looming federal health care law but doesn't have hard financial figures yet on his claim.

Dennis Smith, the point man on health care for Gov. Scott Walker's administration, said Wednesday that he will argue that the federal law commonly called Obamacare will cost Wisconsin taxpayers more than it will save through an expansion of joint state and federal Medicaid health programs for the poor. That's because, according to Smith, it won't provide enough additional reimbursement to the state to cover the full number of people who will sign up for programs such as BadgerCare Plus in 2014. | Dec. 12, 2012»Read Full Article(202)

Joy Global, one of the world's largest mining equipment companies, said Wednesday that it expects a trend of reduced equipment orders to continue in 2013.

Joy reported a 23% increase in its fourth-quarter profit, saying it earned $212.6 million, or $1.99 a share, for the period ended Oct. 26. That's up from $172.3 million, or $1.62 a share, a year ago. | Dec. 12, 2012»Read Full Article

Alliant Energy Corp. (LNT) said Wednesday it has sold its renewable energy construction business, RMT Inc. of Madison, to a Chicago firm.

Financial terms of the deal weren’t disclosed, but the company will remain based in Madison, according to the announcement from Alliant and the buyer, Infrastructure and Energy Alternatives LLC. IEA is an engineering and construction firm focused on the energy sector. | Dec. 12, 2012»Read Full Blog Post

Integrys Energy Services Inc. has won a $300 million contract to provide power supply to residents and small businesses in the city of Chicago.

Based near Green Bay, Integrys Energy Services is the power marketing arm of the utility holding company Integrys Energy Group of Chicago. Integrys is the parent of Wisconsin Public Service Corp., an electric and natural gas utility serving northeastern Wisconsin. | Dec. 12, 2012»Read Full Blog Post(2)

Alliant Energy Corp. (LNT) did something unusual this week when it completed construction of a $235 million wind farm that won't be paid for by its utility customers.

The Madison utility holding company announced that the Franklin County Wind Farm in Iowa has begun generating power, enabling it to qualify for federal grant or tax credit that is set to expire at the end of the year. | Dec. 12, 2012»Read Full Blog Post(1)

Last month the Menomonee Falls-based department store chairn reported that revenue at stores open at least a year fell 5.6% in November. Analysts surveyed by Thomson Reuters expected a 1.9% rise in the figure. | Dec. 12, 2012»Read Full Article(5)

Briggs & Stratton Corp. said Wednesday its board has approved the pulling forward of its 12-cent quarterly cash dividend into 2012, protecting the company's shareholders from potential tax increases next year.

The Wauwatosa-based engine maker said that the dividend, which was previously approved on Oct. 17, will be paid on Dec. 31 instead of Jan. 2. The record date remains Dec. 14. | Dec. 12, 2012»Read Full Article

In a move aimed at reducing costs, expanding services and offering patients better care, the BloodCenter of Wisconsin and Heartland Blood Centers of Aurora, Ill., have announced a new alliance.

The BloodCenter, which serves 56 hospitals in Wisconsin and provides more than 230,000 units of blood each year, has been working since the 1980s with Heartland, which serves 47 hospitals around the greater Chicago area and northwestern Indiana. | Dec. 12, 2012»Read Full Article(3)

The Nature Conservancy has offered to donate its entire holdings at two unique and environmentally significant natural areas in Wisconsin -- Quincy Bluff in Adams County and Chiwaukee Prairie in Kenosha County on the border with Illinois -- to the Department of Natural Resources. | Dec. 12, 2012»Read Full Blog Post(16)

An apartment development with 224 units is being proposed for a vacant site on Waukesha's east side.

Morgensen Realty Co., of Delafield, has submitted conceptual plans for the development, known as Broadway Commons, for a 19-acre site at 1910 E. Broadway St., east of Les Paul Parkway. | Dec. 12, 2012»Read Full Blog Post(20)

Walmart is proposing a combined supermarket and discount store for 16 acres in New Berlin, near the southeast corner of S. Moorland Road and W. Greenfield Ave.

The 150,000-square-foot store would be built at 15205-15375 W. Greenfield Ave., a mostly vacant site that now includes the Charcoal Grill restaurant, according to documents filed with the city's Department of Community Development. That building would be razed, according to the project's site plan. | Dec. 12, 2012»Read Full Blog Post(35)